pimmo2000

iTrader: (6)

Been doing it over a year now and it really puts you on edge .. I don't mind getting calls (I get paid) but having it with me all the time and knowing I can't really go anywhere .. sucks ..

Anyone else have to be on call ?

skoobidude

Surely you can go about your personal life and if you are too far away and a call comes through you just tell them you're not around?

pimmo2000

iTrader: (6)

lol no mate it doesn't work like that ..

c_maguire

I've been self-employed since this year and a factor in that, not the biggest though, was that in doing the same job previously I was on-call one week every 2 months. I hated it because it was for out-of-office hours including weekend and as this was the Print industry many customers were 24 hours so calls could come in anytime and trying to sleep knowing that poxy phone might ring anytime was a major nuisance after a day at work. In addition I am primarily a machine electrician and the majority of faults nowadays tend to be electrical and sometimes could be fixed or worked around after sometimes lengthy phone calls. Whereas more often than not when a call comes in to a mechanic on call there is not much here can do bar check to see who is available to visit the next day.
Glad that's over.

Kevin

There was also an undertaking to attend the customer if necessary which trashed a few of my weekends/evenings/nights.

mart360

Did it for 6 years , 24/7

Not good, wrecks your social life , although it saves you a packet ,

Christmas, New year et al, all get shot to bits.

Would never do it again, unless there was a dam good rota in place


Mart

pimmo2000

iTrader: (6)

I do it once a month for a week 24/7 .. although I've been stung for 9 days from yesterday .. the call out money is good .. but the on call amount if ****e .. not worth ruining your weekend and evenings for ..

Chip

Done it for 30 years now. We do a 1 in 7 rota covering Wales , Midlands and South West Britain from Lands End to Southampton but luckily only get called out to major incidents so not too often. Money is good though.

Chip

BOB.T

I only do it for 10 hour stints at a time and HATE the waiting part, great when I'm out though cos I can earn some nice cash!

tarmac terror

iTrader: (2)

Been working on-call for almost 15 years. At present permanently on-call, every evening, and every weekend, the call outs are few and far between, as they are for a computer system which I run for my day job. The only occasion on which it has been a real nuisance was during my fathers funeral. I was called out that day and for the first time in fifteen years told them to make do.

_Meridian_

iTrader: (1)

One week in four of five for ten years. I lie back and think of the money. But when I get called out at 3am in January I do question whether it's enough.


M

Simon C

Yup, on call now. Usually do a week primary, week secondary then 2 - 3 weeks off. Been doing it now for 4 years, money is nice (on call allowance and OT for calls) but I have noticed I don't sleep well when I am on call.

Thankfully, I'm only at the archery club at weekends which means I'm only 10 mins from home should I get called, but yes, on occasions it can be a bitch as all spontinaity goes out the window.

davyboy

I don't get oncal moneyl, but am regularly called...on holiday, on the way home from work, weekends......all for the love of the job.

....and due to grade I don't get on call anyway!

97TURBO

I do every 3rd weekend and it is ****. Sometimes dont even get a call and i've done jack **** incase i had done.
I went for a job interview about a month ago and was really excited about it, then before my actual interview i got chatting to a guy in reception who would have been one of my managers and he mentioned the "on-call rota" of one week on, one off. I sunk into my seat at that point and felt like walking out. I didn't get the job, thank ****.

ScoobyWon't

My missus does on-call physio at the QMC in Nottingham every now and again. She hates it, but when she sees what she's made extra, she doesn't seem to mind.

I use it as an excuse to go out with the boys

mervil

iTrader: (5)

Up until a year ago I did callout for the local council and was the only one doing it or 18months! The good thing was, being on agency I didn't have to do it, the Maintain Officer on call would ring me if it was a Boiler breakdown and see if I was available! If I was out or couldn't be arsed then I'd do it the next day, especially for double time on a Sunday!! 95% of the time I'd go anyway that was the time I was minted

Also, that's how I met the mrs